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1023971

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit: Cancer
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to make it easier for cancer patients undergoing treatment in hospital to claim universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Warrington South
tabling member printed	Faisal Rashid
uin	201708
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2018 answer text <p>A claimant in hospital, regardless of their condition, has a range of options open to them to support them through their Universal Credit claim if they are unable to complete it themselves online.</p><p> </p><p>Those claimants who are unable to claim online are able to make their claim by telephone and in exceptional circumstances, a hospital visit may be considered. During this visit, the visiting officer will support the claimant to make a telephony claim. If the claimant requires a hospital visit, the date of the claim will be the date of first contact, even if the claimant is not actually able to complete the claim on that same day. In cases in which the claimant is unable to manage their own affairs due to mental incapability or severe physical disability an appointee can be agreed to act on behalf of the claimant in all interactions with the Department.</p><p> </p><p>All claimants receive continuous tailored support through their personal work coaches and all DWP staff in customer facing roles receive training on supporting claimants that report a health condition or disability, including those claimants who report a terminal illness. The Department are committed to ensuring that terminally ill patients are treated with sensitivity and care and receive the support they need to make a claim to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, staff can use our District Provision Tool to signpost claimants to relevant information about local support services. This digital tool lists local and national provision and support delivered by Jobcentre Plus, Skills Funding Agency, Skills Development Scotland, Careers Wales, other providers, local authorities, and independent and volunteer organisations.</p><p /> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 19/12/2018 16:29:54 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4670 label Biography information for Faisal Rashid

1023985

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Unemployment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to increase job opportunities in communities with an unemployment rate higher than the national average.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	201710
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2018 answer text <p>Over 3 million more people are in work, and unemployment is lower in all regions and nations of the UK than in 2010. Youth unemployment has almost halved in this time, and there has been an increase in female and older worker employment. However, DWP, along with other departments and agencies continues to focus on the labour market and its challenges. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published the ‘Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future’ white paper in November 2017. This sets out a plan for how local strategies can work together to increase local opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Jobcentre staff play an important role by offering advice and support to help jobseekers gain the relevant skills required to be able to take up jobs that are available in their communities. Roll-out of Universal Credit Full Service was completed earlier this month and across the country and gives our work coaches the flexibility to offer tailored support to claimants.</p><p> </p><p>Government also provides The National Careers Service and works with local partners to provide opportunities for people. The range of support available may include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Connecting people to jobs in the labour market</li><li>Help with job search, including CV writing, interview skills, where to find jobs and how to apply for them</li><li>Help to identify transferable skills and skills gaps (linked to the local labour market)</li><li>Training to update skills, learn new ones and gain industry recognised certification that will improve employability</li><li>Help to overcome barriers to attending training or securing a job</li><li>For large redundancies, DWP may also provide on-site services such as presentations to those affected</li><li>Jobs fairs and job clubs where appropriate</li></ul><p><strong></strong></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/12/2018 11:50:54 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1024002

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) universal credit claimants, (b) new universal credit claimants and (c) benefit suspensions in (i) Merthy Tydfil, (ii) South Wales and (iii) the UK in each month since 1 April 2018.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	201718
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>Monthly official experimental statistics on the number of people on Universal Credit, starts and claims, are published at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>Further breakdowns of claims by country, parliamentary constituency and local authority and also a breakdown of starts by postcode, since April 2018 are available on Stat Xplore at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Quarterly official statistics Universal Credit decisions are published at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers-allowance-sanctions</a></p><p> </p><p>Further breakdowns of sanction decisions by country, parliamentary constituency and local authority since April 2018 are available on Stat-Xplore at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 17/12/2018 17:40:52 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1024003

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the number of payments of universal credit paid to claimants on time and correct at (a) first assessment and (b) second assessment; what the average amount of time taken has been to resolve such payments; and what the longest outstanding claim has been by number of weeks before it was resolved in (i) Merthyr Tydfil, (ii) South Wales and (iii) the UK.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	201719
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit Full Service rolled out in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney on 27 June 2018. For new claims to Universal Credit Full Service in ‘Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency’, that were due a first payment in August 2018, our internal data shows that 85% were paid in full on time and 92% were paid in part on time. The information requested for data on payment timeliness for second assessment period payments is not held as the sample size is not sufficient to provide a robust measure of payment timeliness for these claims.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested for data on payment timeliness details for South Wales is not held.</p><p> </p><p>Our most recent payment timeliness statistics for claims in Great Britain have been published on gov.uk and can be accessed at:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/755723/universal-credit-statistics-to-11-october-2018.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/755723/universal-credit-statistics-to-11-october-2018.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>This shows that for Great Britain, for first Assessment Periods where the payment was due in August 18: 84% were paid in full on time, and 89% paid in part on time. Our internal data shows for second Assessment Periods where the payment was due in August 18: 92% were paid in full on time and 96% paid in part on time.</p><p> </p><p>Social Security is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the delivery of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Communities, part of the Northern Ireland Executive.</p><p> </p><p>To provide analysis of the longest wait for payment would incur disproportionate cost as the information is not readily available.</p><p> </p><p>In many cases where full payment is not made on time, it is due to unresolved issues such as: claimants not accepting their Claimant Commitment or passing identity checks, or having outstanding verification issues, such as housing costs and self-employed earnings. In order to support claimants to claim, we have taken steps to improve verification processes. For example, we have listened to feedback and built processes into the system to make it easier and quicker for people to verify their housing costs, for example through the landlord portal.</p><p>For anyone waiting for their first Universal Credit payment, advances are available, so no one should be left without means of support.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/12/2018 09:47:50 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 92378 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones

1024023

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit: Self-employed
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the effect of the minimum income floor on self-employed people.
tabling member constituency	Blackburn
tabling member printed	Kate Hollern
uin	201726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>The aim of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) is to encourage gainfully self-employed claimants to grow their business. It addresses flaws in Working Tax Credits and Housing Benefit that provided full support to claimants reporting persistently low (or zero) earnings from self-employment. Only Universal Credit claimants with a work expectation will have a MIF applied to their Universal Credit. A claimant’s expected hours of work depends on their circumstances. Where a claimant has limitations on the hours they can reasonably be expected to work, their MIF level is reduced. This ensures the level of the MIF matches the work expectations of other claimants in similar circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>One of the announcements in Autumn Budget 2018 was that the 12-month start-up period, where claimants are exempt from the MIF, will be extended to all gainfully self-employed claimants, new to Universal Credit, or new to self-employment. We plan to introduce this from July 2019 with full implementation from September 2020. This will provide time for self-employed claimants to establish and grow their business, and strikes a balance between support for new business, not trapping claimants in poverty, and protecting public funds.</p><p> </p><p>Plans are in place for an evaluation of the MIF and a large-scale tracking survey of self-employed Universal Credit claimants with a MIF applied to their claim</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit encourages all claimants with a work expectation to find and progress in work. To support those already in, or considering self-employment, we are also extending the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme from April 2019 onwards. The NEA provides support and mentoring for claimants who are looking to start or develop their business.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 17/12/2018 18:29:33 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4363 label Biography information for Kate Hollern

1024025

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of in-work poverty; and if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the December 2018 Joseph Rowntree Foundation report conclusion that in-work poverty is rising faster than employment.
tabling member constituency	Blackburn
tabling member printed	Kate Hollern
uin	201727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>The figures quoted by the Joseph Rowntree Trust in this report are taken from official national statistics on the number and proportion of people in relative low income published by the Department for Work in March 2018. These statistics show that the risk of being in relative poverty (before housing costs) has remained broadly stable over time; there is a 10% chance of working adults being in relative poverty (before housing costs), which has not varied by more than 1 percentage point since 2005. The data also shows that the majority of those in relative in-work poverty are those with part-time work only, single earner couples, or those in full-time self-employment. Universal Credit is designed to help by offering smooth incentives to increase hours, setting a general expectation that lone parents and partners should work (if not caring for young children or a disabled person) and by offering generous childcare subsidies.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 17/12/2018 15:01:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4363 label Biography information for Kate Hollern

1024039

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Interserve: Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives of (a) The Pensions Regulator and (b) the Pension Protection Fund on Interserve plc.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	201588
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2018 answer text <p>The independent Pensions Regulator has a range of powers to regulate and protect pension schemes and it works closely with all those involved.</p><p> </p><p>The Pension Protection Fund is also independent of Government and protects members of defined benefit occupational pension schemes, if their employer becomes insolvent.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions is in regular contact with both the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund. The Government does not comment on individual cases.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 17/12/2018 15:12:48 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1024057

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had deductions from their universal credit of (a) 40 per cent and (b) 30 per cent for the repayment of advances on that benefit.
tabling member constituency	Makerfield
tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
uin	201678
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>Of the eligible Universal Credit Full Service claims due a payment in October 2018 (990,000 claims – rounded to the nearest 10,000):</p><ul><li>11,000 (rounded to the nearest 1,000) were repaying advances at 40% of their Standard Allowance. This is 1% of eligible claims and 3% of claims that were repaying an advance.</li><li>4,000 (rounded to the nearest 1,000) were repaying advances at 30% of their Standard Allowance. This is less than 0.5% of eligible claims and 1% of claims that were repaying an advance.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The claim count figures in this text will not match the official statistics due to methodological differences.</p><p> </p><p>At Autumn Budget 2018 we announced that from October 2019, we will reduce the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance. The total saving for claimants is £25 million in 2019/20, increasing to £65 million in 2023/24.</p><p> </p><p>This is detailed in Table 1.8 in the Budget 2018 which can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-2018-documents/budget-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-2018-documents/budget-2018</a></p><p> </p><p>This will ensure that those on Universal Credit are supported to repay debts in a more sustainable and manageable way. Additionally, from October 2021, the government will also increase the period over which advances will be recovered, from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/12/2018 15:51:24 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue

1024058

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had deductions from their universal credit of (a) 20 per cent for a single debt as a result of (i) a utility company bill, (ii) council tax arrears and (iii) other liabilities and (b) 30 per cent for two such debts.
tabling member constituency	Makerfield
tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
uin	201679
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department does not have access to data outlining third party deductions by deduction type. As such, to provide this data would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 201680 question first answered 20/12/2018 15:29:53 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue

1024059

registered interest
date	12/12/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had more than 40 per cent deducted from their universal credit payment to repay a combination of (a) advance payments of that benefit and (b)(i) utility debts and (ii) council tax arrears.
tabling member constituency	Makerfield
tabling member printed	Yvonne Fovargue
uin	201680
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2018 answer text <p>The Department does not have access to data outlining third party deductions by deduction type. As such, to provide this data would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 201679 question first answered 20/12/2018 15:29:53 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4034 label Biography information for Yvonne Fovargue